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This is the first in a series of my on-course accounts from the 39th Ryder Cup from Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago.

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The unbridled passion that players and fans share for the Ryder Cup is founded in several things:

- Patriotism;

- Scarcity...only held every 2 years and once every 4 years in the States;

- Uniqueness of the format...as almost all tournaments are stroke play.

But the momentum swings that take place within matches makes the action simply electric.

I was positioned behind the 192-yard par 3 2nd hole by 7 AM Friday morning in order to maximize my vantage point, and by 7:30 there were masses of humanity all around. Over the next hour, I thought Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk might come to blows as McDowell sought relieve from a green-side sprinkler which both Furyk and 2 separate rules officials walking with the group denied. That was shortly followed by a birdie by the Zach Johnson/Jason Dufner team, but then Steve Stricker promptly dumped one in the water in his pairing with Tiger Woods.

In short, the momentum (and mood) swings happen by the hole...and certainly by the match.

In the morning foursomes:

- Furyk and Snedeker made a valiant comeback after trailing by 3 holes with 6 to play, but after tying the match with 3 consecutive wins on 14, 15, and 16, Snedeker pushed his tee ball well right...ultimately sealing the point for the Europeans;

- After trailing for most of the match, Dufner and Z Johnson won two consecutive holes on 9 and 10...never looking back in their 3 and 2 win;

- And the Phil Mickelson-Keegan Bradley versus Luke Donald-Sergio Garcia match saw both sides have small leads through 11 holes before the Americans won 4 consecutive holes on holes 12-15 to finish off their match.

The first morning at Medinah saw the Europeans and Americans finish level with 2 points apiece.

Intense and closely contested competition that will surely only magnify as the weekend progresses.